"Diaper fastener"

The present invention relates generally to a diaper fastener element comprising a target area which a user permanently attaches to a nappy support area, and a fastening area that is attachable to the target area so that the user can re-open and close the closure again.

[0002] A disposable diaper may comprise a laminate having an insert with a liquid-absorbing material sealed within a liquid-permeable inner coat and a liquid-impervious outer coating. The diaper has a back part and a front part. The fastener elements may be attached to the edges of the rear portion and positioned to provide a closure around the wearer when connected to respective support areas on the front portion of the diaper. Each diaper fastener element may transition from the condition obtained when assembling the product to the expanded state and to the closed state. If the diaper fastener elements can be opened again, they can also change from the closed state to the open state and then between the reclose condition and the reopening state.

[0003] The rebutable fastener element of the diaper may comprise an external fastening region, an inner fastening region, a target area and a fastening area. The fixing areas are intended to be permanently fixed by the diaper manufacturer to the outer and inner surfaces of the back part of the diaper. The target area is intended for permanent attachment, by the user, to the support area on the front part of the diaper. The fastening area is initially connected with the possibility of disconnection to the target area and is intended to be disconnected and reconnected by the user in order to open, re-close and re-open the fastener.

[0004] The diaper fastener element will also typically include a first deflection element attached to the target area and a second, different deflection element attached to the fastening area. The first deflection element is gripped by the user during the transfer of the fastener from the condition obtained during assembly to the closed state. A second different deflection element is gripped by the user when opening, re-closing and re-opening the fastener.

[0005] EP 0 853 935 A2 describes a diaper-closing device with a fastening carrier (1) comprising a fastening region (1 ') for securing a fastening carrier (1) to a diaper (9), a fastening area (1 ") containing means fastening (6), as well as the intermediate area (1 "), placed between the fastening area (1 ') and the fastening area (1"), the device being characterized by having a holding device (7), without the possibility of immobilisation in a given state, used to fix the fixing area (1 ").

[0006] US 2004/0249357 A1 discloses a fastener element comprising a first fastening region for securely fastening to a first surface of the anchoring region, a second fastening area for firmly fastening to a second surface opposite the first surface in the anchorage region, a support surface for permanent attachment to an area a fastening area for selectively attaching and releasing from the support area and a stretchable region between the first attachment area and the mounting region, the support area being detachably connected to the second attachment area, and the attachment area being releasably connected to the support area when the fastening element is in the state of pre-assembly.

[0007] EP 0 832 631 A2 discloses a diaper closing strap having a first area that can be attached to a diaper, and a second area that can be releasably connected to a diaper, the strip being characterized by having a third an area close to the second region that includes a separable material, one side of which can be attached to the diaper.

[0008] US 6,363,587 B1 discloses a language of a mechanical attachment tape comprising a strip tongue substrate having at least a first distal end portion, an inner tongue portion and a second distal end portion, the second distal end portion being provided with mechanical fastening material. and the first part of the distal end is provided with a binder layer for attachment to the disposable absorbent article.

[0009] EP 0 941 730 A1 discloses a mechanical sealing tape intended for an absorbent article (diaper) for attaching an article to the body of a person, wherein the mechanical seal tape can be attached to the outer surface of the diaper by ending the manufacturer and comprises a substrate, a binder layer, a mechanical fastening means and a one-sided adhesive tape having a substrate on which the adhesive layer is located, wherein the adhesive tape can be attached to the inner surface of the diaper and / or to the connecting portion of the sealing tape by means of the adhesive layer and / or by means of one or more one-sided additional adhesive tapes such that the adhesive layer is at least partially exposed above the inner surface of the diaper.

The present invention presents a diaper fastener element according to claim 1, wherein the fastening area is initially connected to the target area and detached from the target area when the fastener element moves from its closed state to the open state. This connection / disconnection allows, inter alia, a fastener element design in which a single deflection element can be gripped by the user both when the fastener element passes from the condition obtained during assembly to the closed state and when the fastener element moves from closed to open state ( and between the re-closing state and the reopening state). It can be seen that in a typical project with two deflection elements, the user can accidentally grab and pull the wrong deflection element, trying to carry out the desired change of state. For example, if the user accidentally grips and pulls the target area deflector by attempting to open (or reopen) the fastener element, the target area can be torn away from the diaper, which makes the further use of the fastener impractical and / or impossible. In the case of a structure with one deflector element admitted by the present invention, the user has no doubt which deflection element to grip during the initial closure and / or which deflection element is to be grasped when opening (and re-closing and re-opening) the fastener. by attempting to open (or re-open) the fastener element, the target area can be torn away from the diaper, which makes the further use of the fastener element impractical and / or impossible. In the case of a structure with one deflector element admitted by the present invention, the user has no doubt which deflection element to grip during the initial closure and / or which deflection element is to be grasped when opening (and re-closing and re-opening) the fastener. by attempting to open (or re-open) the fastener element, the target area can be torn away from the diaper, which makes the further use of the fastener element impractical and / or impossible. In the case of a structure with one deflector element admitted by the present invention, the user has no doubt which deflection element to grip during the initial closure and / or which deflection element is to be grasped when opening (and re-closing and re-opening) the fastener.

In particular, the present invention presents a fastener element that can change from the condition obtained when assembling the product to the expanded state and then to the closed state, and when it is in the closed state, it can go into the open state, and then when in its open state, it can pass between the re-close state and the reopening state. The fastener element includes a fastening area, a target area and a fastening area. The fixing area is used for permanent fixing to the surface of the anchoring area on the back part of the product, when the fastening element is in the state obtained during assembly and in subsequent states. The target area is for permanent attachment to the support area on the front part of the product when the element is in place

The fastener EP2446869 is in the closed state and in subsequent states. The fastening area is connected to the target area when the fastener element is in the states preceding the opening state; it is disconnected from the target area when the fastener element moves from its closed state to the open state, and can also be attached to and detached from the target area when the fastener moves between the reclose condition and the reopening state.

[0012] The connection / disconnection of the fastening area to / from the target area takes place using a breakable connection between them. The peelable connection may include, for example, a designed weakness (e.g. a perforated line) in the target area. After pulling the fastening area to pass the fastener element from the closed state to the open state, the designed weakening enables a controlled detachment from the target area. During this transition between states, a small part of the target area can be detached from the fastening area.

[0013] The combination and selective disconnection of the fastening region and the target area means that the fastener element may have a single deflection element. The biasing element can be gripped when the fastening element passes from the condition obtained during assembly to the closed state and during the passage of the fastener element from the closed state to the open state. The same deflection element may also be gripped to pass the fastener element between a recloseable state and a reopening state. The biasing element may occupy a distant grasping area so that it remains accessible and can be gripped during use of the fastener.

[0014] These and other features of the invention are fully described, paying particular attention to them in the claims. The following description and drawings show in detail selected embodiments of the invention by way of explanation. These embodiments show only a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention can be applied.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper with a pair of fasteners.

Figs. 2A-2H show side views of the fastener element in the state obtained in pre-assembly, in the state obtained in partial assembly, in the state obtained with complete assembly, in the expanded state, in the closed state, in the open state, in the reopened condition, and in the closed state.

Fig. 2I shows a perspective view of a roll that can be cut transversely at intervals corresponding to the desired width of the fastener elements to provide a plurality of fastener elements. Figs. 3A-3H show side views of the fastener element in the state obtained after pre-assembly, in the state obtained in partial assembly, in the state obtained in total assembly, in the expanded state, in the closed state, in the open state, in the reopened condition, and in the closed state.

Fig. 3I shows a perspective view of a roll that can be cut transversely at intervals corresponding to the desired width of the fastener elements to provide a plurality of fastener elements. Figs. 4A-4H show side views of the fastener element in the state obtained after pre-assembly, in the state obtained in partial assembly, in the state obtained with complete assembly, in the expanded state, in the closed state, in the open state, in the reopened condition, and in the closed state.

Fig. 4I shows a perspective view of a roll that can be cut transversely at intervals corresponding to the desired width of the fastener elements to provide a plurality of fastener elements.

EP2446869 Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a pair of fastener elements 10 is shown in a state obtained during assembly and in an expanded state on a disposable diaper 12. The illustrated disposable diaper 12 comprises a laminate having a liquid absorbing insert. , enclosed within a liquid-permeable inner liner and a liquid impermeable outer coating. The diaper 12 has a rear portion 16, which is intended to cover the user from the rear and the front part 18, which is intended to cover the user from the front. The fastener elements 10 are respectively attached to the edge 20 of the rear portion 16 and are arranged to provide closure around the user when connected to the respective support areas 22 on the front portion 18 of the diaper.

[0016] Referring to Figs. 2A-2H, which are not within the scope of the present invention, the fastener element 10, illustrated in the pre-assembly state, is shown in the state obtained with partial assembly, in the state obtained with complete assembly, in an expanded state. , in the closed state, in the open state, in the reopened condition, and also in the resealed state. The fastener element 10 includes a fastening region 30, a fastening area 40, a second fastening area 50, and a target area 60. Fastener element 10 also includes a breakable connection 70 between the fastening area 40 and the target area 60. As will be explained in more detail below, this peelable connection 70 permits the fastener element 10 to have a single deflection element 80,

[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the first strip 400 (sometimes referred to as the fastener strip) forms the attachment area 30 and the fastening area 40, the second strip 500 (sometimes referred to as the release tape) forms the attachment area 50 and the third strip 600 ( sometimes referred to as the target tape) creates the target area 60. Obviously, however, other constructions of 30/40/50/60 areas are possible. For example, the attachment area 30 and the fastening region 40 can be separate discrete strips. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment area 50 and / or the target area 60 may have multi-element belt structures.

[0018] It should be noted that thicknesses of 30/40/50/60 areas and 400/500/600 tapes are highly exaggerated for easier explanation. The thickness of these areas / tapes will typically be in the range, for example, from about 5 to 100 microns. If these thicknesses were presented in a scale with the depicted lengths of 30/40/50/60 and 400/500/600 strips, it would be more difficult to read and / or number the different areas / straps of the fastener 10. Thus, the exaggerated thicknesses in the drawings were used this to more clearly show the arrangement of these areas / tapes when the fastener element 10 is in different states.

[0019] In the pre-assembled state (Figure 2A) and in the depicted setting, the mounting region 30 comprises a substrate 32 having a adhesive layer 34 on its lower surface, the fastening region 40 comprising a substrate 42 having a bond layer 44 on its bottom surface, the fastening region 50 comprises a substrate 52 having a binder layer 54 on its bottom surface, and the target area 60 comprises a substrate 62 and a binder layer 64 on its bottom surface. The fastening region 30 and the fastening area 40 overlap each other. The main parts of the fastening area 50 and the area

EP2446869 of the target 60 are aligned in parallel with the overlapping regions 30/40, the target area 60 being arranged between the fastening region 40 and the mounting region 50.

[0020] In the embodiment shown, the fastening area 30 and the fastening area 40 are formed from the first belt strip 400. Thus, the substrates 32 and 42 are essentially one continuous substrate, and the layers 34 and 44 of the adhesive may give the impression (or may indeed be) of one continuous layer of adhesive. Area 30 and 40 define the total length of the fastener element 10, which, in the case of disposable diapers, is usually from 40 mm to 100 mm.

[0021] The substrate 52 of the fixing area 50 has a substantially rectangular shape of the strip and is bent in a manner corresponding to the shape of the extended letter J shown in the drawings in an exaggerated manner. The top surface of the J-shaped end part 56 is connected to the first belt 400 (by the adhesive layer 44 and the adhesive layer 54) and defines a partition between the fixing region 30 and the closure region 40. Such geometry of the connection region 50 results in a Y-joint. around the edge of the diaper (which is often referred to in the industry as the connection Y) when the fastener 10 is in its use state (Figure 4D) and the following states (Figures 4E-4H).

[0022] The substrate 62 of the target area 60 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, together with the folded outer end forming the flap 66, which, as explained in more detail below, is a tear-off flap. The top surface of the second end of the substrate 62 is adjacent (but not connected to) the bottom surface of the end portion 56 of the substrate 52. The peelable connection 70 is located between the flap 66 and the rest of the target area 60, wherein in the embodiment shown comprises perforations in the substrate 62 The biasing member 80 is positioned on the distal surface of the lower substrate 42 of the fastening region 40 and fills the space between the edge of the target area 60 and the edge of the fastening region 40.

The fastener element 10 may be provided to the diaper manufacturer in the state obtained in the initial assembly ("flat") (Fig. 2A). As is particularly well seen in Fig. 2I, a plurality of fastener elements 10 in the condition obtained in the pre-assembly can be cut from the storage roll 100, preferably in a high-speed, efficient manner. The width of the roller 100 corresponds to the desired length of the fastener element 10, and the distance of the cutting line 102 corresponds to their desired width. Although not particularly shown in the drawings, the attachment area 30 and / or the fastening area 40 may include a release coating on the top surface of their substrates 30 and 40 to prevent "locking" when the fastener material is in the form of a roll.

[0024] The diaper manufacturer may mount the fastener element 10 on the rear edge 20 of the diaper 12, and the user may receive a diaper 12 with fasteners in the mounted state. In order to mount the fastener element 10, the fastening region 30 is permanently affixed to the outer surface 24 of the diaper 20 by means of adhesive 34. (Fig. 2B.) The fastening area 40, the attachment area 50, and the target area 60 are then rotated in the direction of the clockwise, and the fastening area 50 is permanently fixed (by means of the adhesive layer 54) to the inner surface 26 of the diaper edge (Figure 2C).

[0025] In the assembly state (Figure 2C), the target strip 600 is temporarily attached (by means of the adhesive layer 64) to the non-adhesive surface 52 of the attachment area 50. The fastening area 40 is connected to the target area 60 by means of a burst connection 70 ( and is also temporarily attached via the adhesive layer 44 to the non-adhesive surface of the target substrate

EP2446869

62). The biasing member 80 extends beyond the mounting region 50 and the target area 60 to provide comfortable gripping.

[0026] The fastener element 10 changes from the state obtained during assembly (Figure 2C) to the application state (Figure 2D) and then to the closed state (Figure 2E). In order to use the fastener element 10, the deflection element 80 is gripped and the fastening region 40 (connected to it by the peelable connection 70 of the target area 60 is rotated counterclockwise (Figure 2D). Target area 60 is permanently connected , by means of its adhesive layer 64, into the support area 22 of the front part of the diaper 12 (which has been previously placed on the user) (Figure 2E) The fastening area 40 is still connected to the target area 60 by means of the break connection 70 (and is also temporarily attached via the adhesive layer 44 to the non-adhesive surface of the target substrate 62).

[0027] When the fastener element 10 is in the closed state (figure 2E), it can go into the open state (figure 2F). In order to enter the open state, the deflector element 80 is gripped and the fastening region 40 is rotated counterclockwise towards the fastening region 30. Such movement results in the connection 70 breaking and the closure region 40 being disconnected from the target area 60 which is permanently attached to the support area 22. The tear-off cover 66 of the target area 60 may remain at the fastening area 40 after such detachment.

[0028] When the fastener element 10 is in the open condition (Figure 2F), it can pass between the re-closure state (Figure 2G) and the re-open state (Figure 2H) simply by rotating the fastening region 40 (now disconnected from of the target area 60) towards and from the target area 60. In the reclosed condition (Figure 2G), the adhesive layer 44 attaches with the possibility of removing the fastening region 40 to the target area 60.

[0029] Accordingly, the fixing area 30 is fixedly fixed to the surface 24 of the anchoring region 20 on the rear edge of the diaper when the fastening element 10 is in the state obtained during assembly and in further states. The fastener area 40 is connected to the target area 60 when the fastener is in the pre-open state is disconnected from the target area 60 when the fastener element 10 changes from closed to open. In addition, the fastening area 40 can be attached to and from the target area 60 when the fastener element 10 goes between the reclose condition and the reopening state. The fastening region 50 is permanently attached to the second surface (e.g., inner surface 26) of the anchoring region 20, when the fastener element 10 is in the condition obtained at assembly and in further states. The target area 60 is attached removably to the mounting area 50 when the fastener element 10 is in the assembly state is removed from the mounting area 50 when the fastener element 10 is in use and in further states, and is also permanently fixed. attached to the support area 22 when the fastener element 10 is in the closed state and in further states.

[0030] The breakaway connection 70 remains intact when the fastener element 10 is in the states to and together with the closed condition. The connection 70 is interrupted during the passage of the fastener 10 between the closing state and the open state, and is therefore interrupted when the fastener element 10 is in a closed and re-opened state.

Importantly, a single deflection element 80 can be caught both during the passage of the fastener element 10 from the condition obtained during assembly (Figure 2D) to the closed state (Figure 2F) and during

EP2446869 of the passage of the fastener element 10 from the closed state (Fig. 2F) to the open state (Fig. 2G). (The biasing member 80 can also be gripped during the passage of the fastener 10 between the reclose condition and the reopening state.) Thus, the user will have no doubt as to which deflection element should be grasped during the initial closure of the fastener element 10 (i.e., the passage of the fastener 10 from the state obtained during assembly to the closed condition) and / or which deflection element should be grasped when opening the fastener element 10 (i.e., the passage of the fastener element 10 from the closed state to the open or re-open state). In the assembly state (Figure 2D), in the closed state (Figure 2F), in the re-opening state (Figure 2G), and in the re-closing state (Fig.

[0032] Figs. 3A-3H illustrate a modified form of the fastener element 10, wherein the fastener element 10 has a hook area 90. The hook region 90 comprises a substrate 92 and hooks 94 extending outwards from its bottom surface. (Thickness of the substrate 92 and / or the height of the hooks 94 are slightly exaggerated in the drawings for ease of explanation and / or to adapt to the exaggerated thickness of the fastener element 30/40/50/60 areas.) As can be seen in Fig. 3I, a plurality of fasteners 10 in the pre-assembly state (Figure 3A) can be cut from the storage roll 100.

[0033] In the case of the fastener element 10 shown in Figs. 3A-3H, the hook area 90 is attached to the fastening region 40 (by adhesive 44) and is located between the edge of the deflector 80 and the edge of the target area 60. Thus, in this embodiment, the element deflector 80 and hook area 90 fills the space between the edge of the target area 60 and the edge of the fastening area 40. The hooks 94 are connected to the inner surface 26 of the diaper when the fastener element 10 is in the assembly state (Figure 3C) , are connected with the possibility of being removed to the front portion 18 of the diaper when the fastener element 10 is in the closed or reclosed state (Fig. 3E and Fig. 3G),and remain attached to the fastening area 40 after the connection 70 has been broken (Figures 3F - 3H).

[0034] Figs. 4A-4H show another modified form of the fastener element 10, this fastening element 10 also having a hook area 90. In this embodiment the flap 66 of the target area 60 is not folded, and the breakable connection 70 defines its edge inside. The hook region 90 is attached to the target area 60 (by means of a binder 44) outside the breakable connection 70 and is arranged inwardly from the inner edge of the biasing member 80. The hooks 94 are removably attached to the inner surface 26 of the diaper when the fastening element 10 is in the assembly state (Figure 4C), they are removable to the front portion 18 of the diaper when the fastener element 10 is in the closed or reclosed condition (Fig. 4E and Fig. 4G), and again remain attached to the fastening area 40 after the connection 70 has been broken (Figures 4F - 4H). As can be seen in Fig. 4I, a plurality of fastener elements 10 in the state obtained at the initial assembly (Figure 4A) can be cut from the storage roll 100.

[0035] The substrates 32, 42, 52 and 62 may be made of a woven, wrapping paper, cellophane film, nonwovens, polymeric foils (e.g. polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate) and other suitable materials or laminates. The deflection element 80 can be made of the same or similar substrate materials.

EP2446869 [0036] The layers 34, 44, 54, 64 of the binder may be any standard binder, including pressure sensitive adhesives and non-adhesive adhesives. Suitable pressure-sensitive adhesives include acrylic resin and natural or synthetic rubber-based adhesives. The layers 34 and 54 may include permanent adhesives, as they are used to securely fasten the attachment regions 30 and 50 to the diaper edges. Layer 44 may include a releaseable adhesive for selectively attaching and detaching the closure region 40 to / from the target area 60. The layer 64 may include a binder that can permanently attach the target area 60 to support area 22, and temporarily attach the target area to the mounting area. 50.

[0037] The release coatings may be a silicone coating, a carbamate coating or any other coating that favors the detachment of a corresponding contiguous area during unfolding of the storage roll 100 and / or the passage of the fastener 10 between the states.

[0038] The hook substrate 92 and hooks 94 may be formed separately and sequentially attached (e.g., by means of deposition, adhesives and the like) or they may be formed in an integrated manner (e.g., by means of pressing, molding and the like). Hooks 94 may have any "hook" form, e.g., J-shaped geometry, mushroom geometry, arrow shape geometry, hooked geometry, tuberous geometry, and the like (see, e.g., U.S. Patents 3,748,701 and 4,169,303). a hook area 90, support area 22 and / or inner surface 26 of the diaper may be provided with complementary loops that do not interfere with the adhesive (or other) connection of the target area 60 to the support area 22 and / or the attachment area 50 to the diaper surface 26.

[0039] It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides a fastener element 10 in which the fastening area 40 is initially connected to the target area 60 and detached therefrom when the fastener element 10 changes from a closed state to an open state. Such attachment / detachment permits the construction of the fastener in which a single deflection element 80 can be gripped by the user both when the fastener 10 passes from the condition obtained during assembly to the closed state and when the fastener 10 passes from closed to open. In contrast to traditional designs with two deflection elements, the user will not have doubts about

[0040] Although the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that those skilled in the art will be aware of the possibility of using equivalent and obvious changes and modifications after reading and understanding this specification. For example, although the invention has been described in connection with a disposable diaper for a user, the fastener element 10 may be used with reusable diapers and / or absorbent articles other than diapers. In fact, the fastener element 10 could be used in situations which are not the least

EP2446869 are associated with absorbent articles. The present invention includes all such changes and modifications, being limited only by the scope of the claims.